The dreaded tornado siren went off, and “Tom” stepped outside to look around. In a moment Tom saw a dark funnel cloud heading toward his house. He watched in fascination, believing the tornado would just pass by, and this was just too good a sight to pass by. Suddenly, the tornado did a sidewinder and headed straight to his house, while Tom was frozen for another second. He ducked inside to an interior bathroom as the tornado roped his house apart.

Tom suffered cuts and a broken arm. He acknowledged his tornado plan including holding a mattress over himself in the event of a tornado, but he lacked the necessary time. Fortunately, the mistake only resulted in injury, not death.

The “Baxter” family was hunkered down as hurricane Sandy was making landfall in New York. Despite the warnings to evacuate, the Baxter family believed they could just ride out the storm. As the storm driven water came up to the house, Sam Baxter decided they needed to depart and piled the family into the SUV go anywhere car. Unfortunately, as they drove away, the road was three feet under water in places, they needed to turn back. The car stalled 1,000 feet from home, the family then struggled to walk back through the dangers wind and water to get home. Albeit painful, the family survived the ordeal. Another family lost a child when they evacuated during the storm.

We see another example in Scripture with Lot being rescued from Gomorrah. Lot and his family were in an evil, nasty place. For whatever reason, the family stayed.

Scripture relates, “At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. "Hurry," they said to Lot. "Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!" When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful.” (Genesis 19:15-16 NLT) Often, this is the human reaction, to wait, either in disbelief or thinking you are stronger then the coming event.

Often, the Lord provides warnings. CEN broadcasts the massage, become a Ready Christian, A Ready Church and a Ready City. Some heed the message while others do not. In the future, others will follow.
CEN application:

1. What steps are we taking to remove ourselves from harms way, or prepare for an unstable future?

2. Have we failed to heed the Lords promptings in the past, and if so, have we confessed?

3. What steps will we take in the future to advise Christians to remove themselves from harms way?